Greek Protesters Decry ‘Mark of the Beast’ ID Cards

More than 2,000 Orthodox Christian fundamentalists have gathered at Syntagma Square in central Athens to protest at a government plan to issue new electronic ID cards that would include biometric data.

The protesters charge that the state aims at tighter control over its citizens and many believe that the design of the cards includes the number 666, the “Number of the Beast” described in the Book of Revelation.

Hundreds of Orthodox priests and monks and a few dozen members of far right groups have joined the demonstrators.

The protest has been peaceful except for a brief altercation with motorists when the protesters tried to block traffic.

Religious fundamentalists have held protests over new-type ID cards since the 1990s, but the cards have not yet materialized.